In apartments and private houses, designers often use zoning. The living room and kitchen combine well. Two rooms connected to each other look spacious, and this layout will make the space cozy.
You can update the design, implement interesting ideas, or repeat a design seen in a magazine, TV show, or photo on the Internet. The style in the living room-kitchen can be different, and choosing it can turn into a fun experience.
Before combining rooms, designers advise taking into account the basic rules, creating a project, and choosing colors.
Zoning
Designers do not advise giving in to fashion trends and copying design ideas without taking into account dimensions, location and other nuances. Before planning and arranging furniture, every detail is thought through.
There are several simple rules that experts advise you to follow:
- Let the room have natural light. To do this, remove excess walls (except for load-bearing ones).
- If the rooms in the apartment are small (12 sq. m or 16 sq. m), the layout of the kitchen combined with the dining room will be the right solution.
- If the ventilation system is not designed correctly, the smell of food will spread throughout the apartment.
The difference between floor-standing and wall-mounted boilers
The type of device location determines the mounting features, weight and installation procedure. Wall-mounted and floor-standing boilers can be either single- or double-circuit.
Suspended heaters have relatively small dimensions, so they take up little space and are easily installed on mounts. Their average weight is 30-70 kg. The advantages of suspended boilers are compactness, low price, inexpensive installation and maintenance.
Despite the fact that wall-mounted models are on average less efficient than floor-mounted ones, they are sufficient to heat a private home. The power of the device is selected depending on the temperature conditions and area of the room.
The disadvantages of the configuration are the shorter service life of the heat exchanger and dependence on the electrical network. In addition, antifreeze cannot be used as a coolant in hanging boilers.
In floor-standing devices, the exchanger is often made of cast iron, while in wall-mounted devices, copper or steel is used; such forms are more sensitive to corrosion. Copper parts are installed only on expensive boiler models.
Installation of floor heaters is labor-intensive and complex. If a suspended model can be installed independently, then for a stationary one it is recommended to entrust this task to specialists.
If the area of the heated room is large, you should give preference to a powerful floor-mounted installation. It can work with any coolant and is almost always energy independent.
Partitions
The interior of the kitchen and living room begins to be thought out from the junction of the two zones.
- Here are some of the ways and objects that delimit space:
- installation of a bar counter;
- kitchen island;
- big table;
- installation of a low partition.
Designers advise installing a wide counter, since you can sit at it like at a regular table, and high chairs are quite suitable for the whole family.
However, in small rooms (16 sq m), narrow counters are installed. Kitchen islands are convenient to use, but are only suitable for large kitchen-dining rooms (25 sq m or 30 sq m). Capital low partitions are installed only if it has been decided in advance what they will be used for (for example, as a TV stand).
Basic criteria for choosing a boiler
When choosing a boiler with an atmospheric gas burner, you need to pay attention to the following main characteristics:
- Power;
- Number of circuits;
- Installation method: floor-mounted or wall-mounted;
- The material from which the heat exchanger is made;
- Automation and security
Let us dwell on each of the criteria in more detail, and consider all the main points associated with the given technical characteristics, with the exception of those that have already been discussed above.
Heating unit power
The quality of heating and the creation of a comfortable temperature in the room largely depend on the power of the boiler.
When calculating the boiler power, you need to take into account:
- Room area;
- Room volume;
- Thermal conductivity coefficient of walls, windows and doors.
In order not to dive deeply into numbers and calculations, you can take another, simpler route. It is generally accepted that to heat 10 square meters of housing, 1 kW of boiler power is sufficient for standard ceilings with a height of 2.5 m and insulation of the room. Thus, it is enough to divide the area of the room by 10, and we obtain the theoretically required boiler power.
The resulting figure must be increased by 20% to ensure normal operation of the boiler during peak load periods. To obtain a sufficient volume of hot water, which is especially important for flow-through double-circuit boilers, the power must be increased by 25%.
Material for the manufacture of heat exchanger
The main materials from which the heat exchanger of an atmospheric boiler is made are cast iron, steel, stainless steel and copper. A cast iron heat exchanger has almost no power limitations. It is reliable and durable, thanks to its excellent anti-corrosion properties.
But this also has its own characteristics - cast iron can crack due to the temperature difference at the point of water entry and the heating zone. Design solutions include the prevention of low temperature corrosion by installing a four-way valve.
Cast iron heat exchangers are installed in floor-standing boilers. The products are large in size and weight.
The cast iron heat exchanger has no restrictions on boiler power and is the most reliable and durable
Steel heat exchangers are used by domestic boiler manufacturers due to their low cost. Such heat exchangers do not require installation, they withstand thermal loads well, but at the same time they are significantly inferior to cast iron heat exchangers due to their low corrosion resistance.
A good alternative to steel is a stainless steel heat exchanger. It combines all the positive qualities of steel and cast iron - it is durable, immune to thermal shock, and has high corrosion resistance. But at the same time, boilers with stainless steel heat exchangers are more expensive.
Copper is flexible and conducts heat well. Heat exchangers made from it have many fins and are characterized by a small volume, due to which it is possible to reduce the size and weight of the boiler.
Copper heat exchangers are used in wall-mounted boilers, providing quick heating, which reduces fuel consumption. Due to its compact size and small amount of water, a circulation pump is required to avoid boiling.
Automation and security
Automation ensures safe operation of the boiler, economical fuel consumption, and helps increase the level of comfort when operating the equipment. The cost of automation for a gas boiler is determined by the number and complexity of programs and functions.
Some of them are considered basic and should be present in any gas boiler. They are responsible for preventing gas leaks as a result of various non-standard situations - flame extinction, drop in gas pressure.
There are two types of automation – volatile and non-volatile. The first is considered the most reliable, but requires a connection to the mains and an uninterruptible power supply. The second is considered mechanical, it is simpler and is autonomous.
Non-volatile automation system
It is characterized by autonomy, high maintainability and low price. The temperature range of the thermostat is selected manually using a thermostat, which has a rod in its design that lengthens or shortens depending on the temperature. As a result, the gas supply valve opens and closes.
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Non-volatile automation is easy to operate and ensures the operation of basic security systems
The basic automation package includes draft and flame sensors. When the draft decreases or the burner goes out, the gas supply is blocked. Although non-volatile automation is considered simple and reliable, it does not make it possible to operate the boiler in optimal modes, which reduces the service life of the equipment.
Volatile device version
Operating parameters or operating modes are entered on the display or from the remote control, after which the control and regulation systems are launched.
Energy-dependent automation extends the service life of equipment and opens up opportunities for wide comfort control functionality
The principle of its operation is based on the operation of solenoid valves, which are controlled by a microprocessor unit.
Main functions of modern automation:
- Temperature maintenance for a certain time;
- Adjustment of thermal conditions depending on the weather;
- Electronic flame modulation;
- Protection of the heat exchanger from overheating;
- System frost protection;
- Protection against jamming of the circulation pump;
- Self-diagnosis.
The disadvantage of the system is its energy dependence; in the absence of electricity, the equipment is blocked. To ensure full operation, the automation must be connected to an uninterruptible power supply.
Finishing
If the kitchen combined with the living room has the same floor covering, then there are no special rules for carrying out the work. When combining different materials, take into account in advance where they will be joined.
For example, laminate flooring creates unsightly joints with tiles. The main thing is that the floor is flat without curved joints, as they will be noticeable.
Kitchen cabinets that are mounted on the walls should reach the ceilings. In some cases, craftsmen “lower” the ceiling with plasterboard.
Description of atmospheric gas boilers and operating principle
The heater is equipped with an open burner that draws air from the room. The combustion product emission zone is not separated by a sealed chamber, so the heating installation is installed in a separate room, regardless of power.
The heating boiler consists of a burner, gas compartment, heat exchanger, control unit, thermostat, pump, ignition and flame control electrodes, pressure gauge, smoke exhaust fan and pipe. At the entrance to the fuel tank there are coarse and fine filters.
An open burner consists of a set of small nozzles, the diameter of which regulates the pressure of the gas mixture. The intensity of the process depends on the feed rate and the amount of air that is mixed with the fuel before entering the combustion chamber. The domestic market mainly offers models with incomplete injection, so part of the oxygen required for the reaction is sucked in from the surrounding space.
In addition to combustion devices, the chamber is equipped with carbon monoxide and flame level sensors. They send signals to the electronic control unit, which turns off the device in emergency situations.
The combustion energy of the gas heats the heat exchanger, from which water enters the heating system. To avoid clogging of pipes, cleaning filters are installed in front of the coil.
During operation of the device, gas fuel under pressure is supplied to the chamber, where it burns with the participation of oxygen from the surrounding space. It comes stably from natural or forced ventilation in the boiler room. The draft is provided by a chimney, the height of which depends on the distance of the device from the central section of the house:
- if it is located less than 1.5 m, then the pipe should rise above the ridge by more than 0.5 m;
- at a distance of 1.5 to 3 m, the same height of the air duct and the top point of the roof is allowed;
- at a distance of more than 3 m, the chimney may even be lower than the ridge, but the angle between them is less than 10°.
To ensure ventilation, the duct must have a minimum number of bends and horizontal sections.
Turbocharged boilers, unlike atmospheric ones, do not have an open burner. Air enters from outside the room through a double (coaxial) chimney.
Important: if the combustion chamber type is open, then the boiler can only be used for heating a private house, because a non-residential premises and a standard chimney are equipped for it.
Furniture items
A few examples of furnishing a kitchen combined with a living room:
- 1. Sofa. It becomes an object that zones space. The sofa is placed with its back facing the place where food is prepared. In small rooms (less than 20 sq m) a corner is placed, which is placed against a wall installed perpendicular or parallel to the kitchen.
- 2. Set. According to designers, minimalist models without elaborate details look modern. The service, vases or glasses are placed on an open shelf. You can buy a fashionable display case for them. Furniture is placed near the wall. If the space is large (20 sq. m, 25 sq. m or 30 sq. m), then in the central part you can install an island, which also has sections for kitchen appliances.
- 3. Furniture set. The style should be combined with the design of both rooms. In small rooms, a compact table and chairs made of transparent material or painted in light colors look good. You can add a table with a round top to your living room interior. In spacious rooms, the kit is installed near the wall or in the central part. An elongated rectangular dining table would look good here.
The best gas boilers for apartments
Let's consider the best options for gas boilers, which are optimal for installation in an apartment.
BOSCH GAZ 6000 W
The best wall-mounted gas boiler for an apartment is the BOSCH GAZ 6000 W. It is equipped with two heat exchangers, a modulating burner and has models with a power of 12, 18 and 24 kW. The primary circuit is made of copper, and the secondary circuit is made of steel. The unit has a stylish appearance and a bright informative display. It is compact in size and light in weight. The main characteristics of the boiler are as follows:
- Efficiency = 93.2%;
- fuel consumption - 2.1-2.8 cubic meters. m/hour;
- DHW productivity at t=30°C is 8.7-11.4 l/min.
The gas unit is equipped with protection systems against jamming, overheating and freezing, gas control, and a draft sensor.
Vaillant turboFIT VUW
One of the best wall-mounted double-circuit gas units for an apartment, Vaillant turboFIT VUW, has a power of 23.7 kW. It stands out for its fashionable design and modern interface. It is possible to connect external control. This model is equipped with a 3-stage circulation pump, a modulation burner, and basic protection and safety systems. The unit has the following characteristics:
- Efficiency = 93.5%;
- fuel consumption - 2.66 cubic meters. m/hour;
- DHW productivity at t=30°C – 11.2 l/min.
Baxi ECO Compact
An inexpensive double-circuit gas boiler for installation in an apartment, Baxi ECO Compact, has models with a power of 14.18 and 24 kW. The primary heat exchanger is made of copper, the secondary one is made of steel.
The unit is easy to operate and has a simple, clear display. It is equipped with a self-diagnosis system, valve and pump blockage protection, as well as other standard systems of modern gas boilers. The characteristics of the unit are as follows:
- Efficiency = 90.5%;
- fuel consumption - 1.63-2.73 cubic meters. m/hour;
- DHW productivity at t=30°C is 7.5-9.8 l/min.
Baltur Tesis
The budget version of the double-circuit unit for the Baltur Tesis apartment has a power of 24 kW. It is equipped with a safe fuel combustion system. The unit has a sensor that controls water pressure, a gas pressure regulator, and anti-freeze and overheating protection systems. Its characteristics are as follows:
- Efficiency = 93.2%;
- fuel consumption - 2.8 cubic meters. m/hour;
- DHW productivity at t=30°C – 11.5 l/min.
Which double-circuit gas boiler is suitable for heating an apartment?
How to install a wall-mounted gas boiler with your own hands? —
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NAVIEN Deluxe Coaxial
The NAVIEN Deluxe Coaxial double-circuit wall-mounted gas boiler has models with a power of 13, 16, 20, 24 and 30 kW. It is adapted to work in difficult domestic conditions and has a built-in water purification filter. The unit has a long service life and economical fuel consumption. Its main characteristics are as follows:
- Efficiency = 91.5%;
- fuel consumption - 0.75-1.7 cubic meters. m/hour;
- DHW productivity at t=30°C is 11.5-17 l/min.
Protherm Cheetah 23 MTV
The 23.3 kW dual-circuit unit is equipped with a modulating burner. It has an economical operating mode, into which the unit can be switched if desired. There are also “warm floor” functions, winter/summer. You can connect a weather-compensating automation device. Boiler characteristics:
- Efficiency = 93.2%;
- fuel consumption - 2.73 cubic meters. m/hour;
- DHW capacity at t=30°C – 11 l/min.
Oasis BM
The Oasis BM double-circuit gas boiler with a closed combustion chamber has a power of 16 kW. It has compact dimensions and low weight. The boiler runs on natural or liquefied gas, the coolant temperature is regulated from 30 to 80 degrees, hot water - from 36 to 60 degrees. There is protection against overheating and freezing, as well as gas control. Average service life is 12 years.
The gas boiler has the following technical characteristics:
- Efficiency = 92%;
- fuel consumption - 1.6 cubic meters. m/hour;
- DHW capacity at t=30°C – 8 l/min.
Multi-level floor
To zone the space, craftsmen install floors at different levels. They advise installing a podium to separate the kitchen and dining room. This option is considered one of the most practical because, among other things, the owners have additional free space where they can hide something.
It is convenient to use boxes or crates for this. Wicker baskets will look good. But such space can remain free.
For podiums, reliable materials are selected that can withstand heavy loads. Usually builders make wooden or metal podiums.
However, such a design should not be made if there are small children in the family, since the podium can become an obstacle for him. In addition, various floor coverings can be used.
They will zone the space between the living room and the kitchen and protect the podium from damage. For example, tiles are laid in the kitchen area, and laminate flooring in the dining room. The main thing is to choose colors and textures and combine the finishes correctly.
Types of boilers
It’s worth starting with a brief analysis of the main types of boilers in order to understand the system of their operation and the appropriateness of installation in a particular home.
Floor and wall types of equipment
The floor structure is distinguished by its high weight - up to 100 kg. Its installation requires a lot of space, and installation is labor-intensive, complex and expensive. Most floor-standing atmospheric boilers do not heat water to be supplied to mixers. During operation, the floor-standing unit makes a lot of noise, and the chimney requires regular cleaning.
Positive sides:
- high power;
- durability;
- lack of electronics.
Wall heaters are smaller in size and weight (up to 50 kg). Such boilers are predominantly double-circuit. The model is easier to install and does not take up much space. The boiler can be placed anywhere in the room. Wall-mounted atmospheric boilers are single-circuit and double-circuit.
Both floor-mounted and wall-mounted boilers are produced to serve one or two circuits. However, if space allows, it is better to take two: a floor-mounted single-circuit one for heating and a column for preparing hot water
Disadvantage: a wall-mounted boiler depends on electronics. If something burns out, you will lose hot water and heating. Boilers are installed mainly in small apartments and houses.
Single-circuit and double-circuit
Single-circuit and double-circuit boilers differ in the tasks they can perform. So, for example, a double-circuit boiler (following the name) performs two tasks: it heats the room and heats water to be supplied to the mixer.
The single-circuit one performs only one standard function - heating.
A double-circuit boiler, in addition to its standard function, makes it possible to obtain hot water for various needs, but it cannot be called a full-fledged “boiler”. The fact is that the pressure of water that passes through the unit must be very strong for the system to work. Therefore, such a boiler needs to be installed near the bathroom and kitchen.
A single-circuit boiler does not give you the additional function of a boiler, however, it costs several times less. The operating system of such a unit is simple, which means that if it breaks down it will be easier to repair. In addition to a single-circuit boiler, you can install an indirect heating boiler, which can operate on various fuels (gas, electricity, solid fuel), be floor-mounted or wall-mounted.
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It works as follows: a central heating system is connected to the boiler (in a small circle); A flask with water is installed inside the unit, through which a coil passes. Hot water passing through the coil heats the water inside the boiler, and it can be used for personal purposes. When the heating is turned off, the taps at the inlet and outlet of the central heating pipes are closed, and the water in the boiler is heated using gas, electricity or solid fuel.
For more information on the structure and difference between single-circuit and double-circuit boilers, watch the video
Styles
There are many current trends and design ideas. The kitchen-living room in a modern style looks simple and minimalistic.
At the same time, it is not necessary to strictly adhere to any style; you can take its main idea as a basis and cleverly play with it with accessories and other details.
Scandinavian
This style came into fashion several years ago, but still does not lose its relevance. Its practicality and European elegance are well suited for a living room in a city apartment or house. You can add bright accents, for example, textiles of different shades.
The basis for the Scandinavian style is white and gray finishing, wooden details. To decorate the space, pink, blue or ocher elements are suitable.
Loft
This year the style remains in demand. It is often used to equip kitchens combined with a living room. This combination gives more free space, which will only emphasize all the details of the loft.
Today, such a definition as “classic style” is used less and less by designers. Loft - any interior design in which various technical elements are not hidden, but emphasized.
For example, stylists play with brickwork, wires or concrete walls. The photographs clearly show how successful it can look like a living room that is combined with a kitchen.
For loft, rough and heterogeneous surfaces and rough materials are selected. In apartments decorated in this style, wall lamps are installed. In this case, the light is directed along the walls.
Due to this, shadows fall so that uneven surfaces look three-dimensional. At first, loft was viewed with caution, but it quickly became popular. Designers do not hide finishing materials and even fake them. To imitate a concrete surface and smudges, decorative plaster is used.
Single-circuit and double-circuit wall-mounted gas boilers
There are two groups of gas wall boilers:
- single-circuit . Designed only for supplying coolant to the heating circuit;
- double-circuit . They are capable of performing two functions at once - heating the coolant and preparing hot water for domestic needs.
Double-circuit boilers are distinguished by the presence of a second heat exchanger, which heats water for domestic hot water indirectly.
The hot coolant leaving the primary heat exchanger cannot be immediately directed into the heating circuit.
Its temperature is too high, so you have to add a certain amount of colder liquid from the return line. Installing a secondary heat exchanger slightly changes the operating mode of the boiler.
Since part of the thermal energy is spent on preparing hot water. The temperature of the coolant drops, so the proportion of reverse flow in the mixture decreases. This is not of fundamental importance; fuel consumption changes insignificantly.
The only drawback of dual-circuit units is considered to be heating instability and the possibility of sudden changes in DHW temperature when other plumbing fixtures are turned on.
Neoclassical
Even popular music has echoes of ancient motifs. The same can be said about the design, in which classic details are framed in a fashionable design.
This style is characterized by symmetrical lines, framed mirrors, arched openings, and antique accents. All this is complemented by fashionable finishing materials and accessories. Neoclassicism combines sleek modern details with traditional combinations.
Provence
The name of this destination comes from a region in the south of France. Even a small kitchen-living room, the decor of which was inspired by French aesthetics, will be filled with warmth and comfort.
The main thing is that it has a lot of daylight, textiles with romantic prints, and floral patterns. The dining room in the Provence style is designed in pastel shades. Furniture items can be vintage or artificially aged. Plain walls will contrast with large checkered curtains.
The door in the kitchen area set is sometimes replaced with curtains made from the same material as the tablecloth. A good addition would be vases and figurines, clay pots, forged metal parts and ribbons.